"No, we won't," said Sam, stoutly. "Do you want me to call him?"

The policeman was now passing them. He glanced casually at the pair, rather to the discomfort of Abner, whose face was not wholly unknown to the force.

"What do you say?" demanded Sam, in a significant tone.

"I'll lend you five dollars," said Abner, desperately. "It's all I've got now."

"Hand it over, then," said Sam, who had not expected to get back so much of the stolen property.

Abner drew out a bill from his pocket, and passed it over.

"Is that all you've got left, Mr. Blodgett?" asked Sam.

"Don't call me Blodgett. It isn't my name. I told you my name was John Wharton, of Harvard College."

"You said Warburton five minutes since," said Sam, dryly.

"You didn't understand me," said Abner, rather embarrassed. "The names sound alike."

"I don't believe any of the names belong to you. Now, when are you going to pay the rest of that money?"

"I told you I knew nothing of your money," said Abner.

"Then why did you give me that five dollars back?"

"Out of charity."

"Then I wish you'd give me a little more out of charity."

"I have only enough to get me back to Cambridge."

"By the way, Mr. Blodgett," said Sam, slyly, "what do you use to make your mustache grow so quick?"

"Nothing at all. What makes you ask?"

"When I saw you two days ago you had none. It's grown pretty well for so short a time."

"I can't stop talking with you any longer. I must go out to Cambridge.

I have a recitation in Latin in two hours."

"May I go out with you? I would like to see the college."

"Can't see it to-day," said Abner. "It isn't open to the public on Saturday."

"That's strange. I can go to Cambridge, can't I?"

"If you want to; but there isn't anything to see except the college."

"He don't want me to find him out," thought Sam. "I'm bound to go if he goes."

"I guess I'll go," he said, quietly. "Come along."

Abner unwillingly started with his unwelcome companion, and walked slowly to Bowdoin Square.

"There's the cars," he said, "just in front of the Revere House. Jump in, and I'll be with you in a minute."

As he said this he dodged round a corner and Sam found himself alone.

"Just as I expected," thought he. "That fellow isn't a Harvard student any more than I am. I'm lucky to get back part of my money. Perhaps I'll get the rest out of him some time."

He got into the car which had been pointed out to him and inquired of the driver: "Does this car go to Harvard College?"

"It is a Mount Auburn car, but you can get out at Harvard Square."

"I guess it's all right," said Sam to himself. "I might as well go out and see Harvard, as I've got nothing else to do."

CHAPTER XXVII.

SAM IS INITIATED INTO A COLLEGE SOCIETY.

Before Sam reached Harvard Square he caught sight of the college yard and the numerous buildings of brick and stone which had been erected within it for the accommodations of the students.

"It's a pretty big place," thought Sam. His ideas of a college were very vague. He had fancied that it consisted of one large brick building, like the New York public schools.

"I wonder what they want of so many buildings, anyway?" said Sam to himself. "There must be a lot of students."

He got out at Harvard Square, and crossing the street entered the college yard, or campus, as it is sometimes more ambitiously called.

There were very few students about, for it was Saturday, when there was a morning exercise only, and, the rest of the day being a holiday, many of the students were accustomed to go to Boston, or to visit their friends elsewhere. Sam knew nothing of this, and was surprised to see so few young men about.

Now it happened that three sophomores, having nothing more important to occupy their attention, had made up their minds, by way of a lark, to play a trick on some freshman, who, from inexperience, looked like an easy victim. For convenience's sake I will call them Brown, Jones and Robinson.

As these three young men were walking arm-in-arm in front of University Hall, they saw Sam approaching. Of course, where the classes are so large, it is impossible for all to be personally acquainted, which accounts for their instantly mistaking Sam for a freshman.

"There's a fresh," said Brown. "He looks green enough for our purpose.

Suppose we take him?"

"All right," said Jones. "He'll do."

Sam was rather surprised when the three college boys stopped and Brown addressed him.

"What is your name, sir?"

"Barker," answered Sam.

"All right!" said Robinson, in a low voice. "There's a Barker in the freshman class. I've noticed his name in the catalogue."